Card-index.



PATENTED JUNE 18, 190'?A Nam 857,202.

J. E. RALPH. "URBJNDBX ArPLwATIoN FILED FEB. 1, isos.

w, wir LW M e www* /f L w/ www; MM M UNITED STATES ,IuiTENT oFFroE. JOSEPII E. RALPH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.l

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

.To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH-E. RALPH, av citizen of the Uni'ted States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of vN ew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card-Indexes; and

`I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the ing or attaching. of indications or equivalents to the ed es of the cards.

An object o this inventionis to provide a card index wherein the classiication cha-racteristics on the cards are divided into two or more main groups, and each of the Asaid groups sub-divided into a plurality of subclasses, and with vmeans for selecting from all of the cards those havingthe characteristics of any one subclass of either group, or of two sub-classes, one from each` t oup, and with means whereby the cards se ected from eachgroup are positioned differently `from any of the other cards contained in the said index, and those cards which belong to a subclass of each of the grou `s will occupy a position other and different om any'of the cards in either of the groups which do not belong to two of said subclasses.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a system which may be used in conjunction with the said systems, or other systems dependent entirely upon the keenness ofthe eye of the operator` in vnoticingslight L' y.variations in shape, color, etc., by providlng ....automatic means for. elevating all the cards S0 i of; a single desired sub-division of a particular classification so pronouncedl `and markedly that there can be no mista e as to which cards are so particularly picked.

, A further object of the inventionis to provide means for-selecting.;` from thewhole case or tray, the several cards of still another subto recognize f division of another distinct group by elevating the said cards to another and dlstlnct position from that assumed by the sub-class v-preyiously selected and above the normal position of the cards in the case, and embodying the resultant feature of distinctly elevating all of the cards that are members of the particular sub-divisions ofv the two separate groups to a position different from that assumed by the cards of either of said groups or from lthe normal position of the cards-in the tray. f `With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel construction, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter `fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:-Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a conventional card arranged for operation in conjunction with means, in the case or tray containing the cards, `for elevating cardsas desired.`

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a box, or tray containing cards and'showin in side elevation one of the channel bars use to elevate the cards, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of a box or tray showing in transverse section the channel bars and elevating means, one of said bars being shown as elevated and the others as depressed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one fof the members romwhich is made the device attached to the lower edges of the cards and by which they are elevated. Fig. 5 is a view in edge elevation of the member shown in and described for Fig.- 4. Fig. 6 is a view in edge elevation of the elevating device completedv with the washer between the two elements of said member. Fig. 7v is a diagrammatic view showing lthe position of a card raised to' indicate its membership in a certain sub-class of adivision. Fig. .8 1S a diagrammatic view showing the position of a card raised to indicate its membership in sub-class of another division, than sho in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the-position a card would assume' which happens to belong to both sub-classes of two distinct divisions, shown inA Figs. 7 and 8, in relation to and in IOO connection with cards, each of which belongs tothe sub-class of but one division.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

- In its preferred embodiment the card index forming the subject-matter of this appli- IIO 'cle in the bottom of cation comprises a container 1() in the form of a box, drawer, case, tray or other receptawhich are mounted a plurality of channel bars 11 upon each side. The channel bars 1 1 are arranged to be raised vertically by means of links 12 and 13, connected by a pin, as 14, to form a toggle joint operated by the pull Abar 15 extending outwardly throu h 16 to be elevated above the said division boards 17. f y

Within the container is contained a plurality of cards 18, disposed in a vertical posi-` tion and transversely of the case or tray and having bearing members 19 resting upon the upper surface of the channel bars 11. The cards 18 may be of any approved size and conformation, and' preferably formed with a plurality of scallo s or semi-circular indentations 20 arrange in g'roups upon each end of the ,lower edge of the card and with a section, as 21, between the said groups, which section is not provided with perforations or cut in anymanner. Above each of the said indentations 20 is provided an opening-.22 which may be of any size and form, but preferably a small square hole as indicated. The bearing member 19 is composed of similar elements 23, each formed upon one end with a recess 24'and upon the opposite end with a tongue. 25, which is bent or curved as at 26 to engage within the recess 24 of the co-acting element, the' said elements being reversely e placed relative to each other, the curved therein in any approved manner as by the 'rivet 28 inserted through the said elements tongue of each disposed within the recess of the other, one of said tongues being inserted through one of the openings 22, and a washer 27 bein disposed between the said elements and within one of the scallops 20 and secured and throu h the washer.

Near the top edge of the car is provided an indicator as 29 occupying any predetermined position and. 'formed in any approved manner as by producing scallops or notches 30 along the portions of the card which are not to be usedv as indicators, allowing the indicating section to remain standing at a normal height of the card, as indicated.

Indexes embodying this invention maybe used for any urposes for which card indexes' are used, an for convenience and clearness of description an index is here illustrated as for use' in connection with a real estate busi-v ness, and the card shown at Fig. l is arranged for and filled out conveniently for such use. It will be noted that in Fig. 1 the several scalterminating in 'a knob or lops 20 along the lower left-hand end of the said card are designated as 1 Fam., 2 Fam., 3 Fam. 4 Fam., and factory, the abbreviation ^Fam." intended to indicate family and the designations to indicate that the building to be indexed upon the said card will be for one or more fam1lies,as indicated or a factory. As filled out, the card 18 is for a building occupied by three families and the bearing member 19 is engaged upon the said card in the scallop 20 designated by 3 Fam. and the curved tongue 26 inserted through the o ening 22 vertically above the said sca lop. Upon the opposite end the said scallops 20 are indicated by iron, I and B, brick, B and F, and frame, the abbreviation I stand-ing for iron, B for brick and. yF for frame. cated upon the card the building indexed is a brick and the bearing member 1 9 is, therefore,

secured in the scallop 20 indicated by brick in the manner described for the securing of the card.

The indicator at the top of the card may indicate the value of the building as 5 show-n may be for the value of five thousand or arranged to indicate a value ranging from four to six thousand dollars. All of the cards having their bearing members 19 disposed similar to the position shown in Fig. 1, will bear upon the channel member third from each side of the box or tray, and if itis desired to select from the several cards contained in the said tray all of the builidings occupied by three families, the knob 16 so designated is pulled to the osition shown in Fig. 2, thereby elevating its associate channel barv 11', and with it the several cards having their bearing members resting thereon, which said cards will be elevated at the lefthand corner, as indicated in Fig. 7.

If it is desired to select from the several cards contained in the tray, all of the brick buildings, the knob 16 so indicated, pulled to a similar position elevating thereby to the position shown in Fig. 8, all of the several cards indexing brick buildings. Thus, those cards that areindexed brick buildings occupied by threeV` families will be bodily and wholly raised to the position shown in Fig `9 above the normal position of the cards in the box and to a position also wholly distinct from the position assumed by cards ofbut one of the sub-classes of either gro that were acted upon by pulling actuating tlie two knobs 16, as described. If it is desirable to select from among said groups, buildings valused at, say five thousand, the indicator upon the to edge of the card is brought into use and a of the cards so indicated may be uickly selected from any or all of said sub-4 c asses. It will be understood that the bearing member; 19 will be differently secured to the said-card orindicating a diiferent num- As indi- IOC IOR

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ber of families'in a house or for a factoryand 131 none of the cards indexed for other numbers.

of families will be manipulated or raised in any manner, but will remain at the normal position ofthe cards in the tray, the same being true of the selection for construction which selection may raise a sub-class of cards entirely distinct'rom those raised by the 3 Fam. knob or some of said cards may be indexed for both sub-classes'whereupon both 'ends of said card will be raised as above described, all other cards remaining at the normal position inthe tray.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a card index, means to raise the sevl eral cards of af-plurality of groups of subclassiications above 'their normal positions, and those classified under each such subclassiication, to adistinct position.

2.- Ina card index, a container, means to select and raise the several cards of a plurality of groups of sub-classifications above theirnorma'l positions, and those classified under each of said classifications to a distinct position:n Y

3. In a'card index, a container, a bar disposed within said container, cards of a'particul cards resting thereupon.

4..In a card index, a container, a plurality of barsdi'sposed said container, a plufrest' argroups of sub-classiiicationsresting upon said bar, and means to raise the' bar and the rality of cards container, `and ar- `ranged with the cards of distinct sub-classifications resting upon different ones of said bars, land means to Vraise therbars and the cards thereon. 5. n a card index,'a container, cardsof a plurality of classifications within the cony tainer a channel bar disposed within said container, cards within said container and so arranged that cards of a distinct classification only rest upon the said channel bar,and `means extending Without the container for raising the channel bar and the cards resting thereon.

f of said card and different 6,. In a card index, a container, a channel bar disposed within and extending longitudi-- nally of the said container, and with its in the said container and provided with .a bearin memberextending Abelow the normal edge o said card and positioned to rest udpnn the said channel bar, and means exten Without'the container to elevate the sai l channel bar andthe said card.

7. In a card index, a card provided with bearing members secured upon its lower edge andd ,adjustable longitudinally of the said car 8. In a card index, a card provided with spaced openings adjacent its lower edge, and bearingmembers secured in said openings and extending below the normal edge of said card, and adjustable to any of said open' s.

9. In a 'card index, a container, a plurality of bars disposed upon opposite sides and extending longitudinally of said container, cards within said container rovided each with depending bearing mem ers arranged l elevate either of said b ars and the cards resting thereon.

10. In a card index, a container, a plurality of bars disposed upon each side and extending longitudinally of the said container,

cards within said container providedeach with openings at each-endalong their lower edges, de ending bearing members arranged to be adJustably secured in either of said spaced openings, and means extending Withbars.

with a plurality of bars upon each side extending4 longitudinally thereof, cards Within the container provided each with spaced scallops alongl the, lower edge and grouped at each end Y ing members ,arranged to be secured Within either of said scallops and to extend below the normal edge of 'said cards and bear upon the upper surfaces of the corresponding bars, and means 'extending without the container to elevate either of said bars. f

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. RALPH.

Witnesses:

HORACE C. SELLERS, MAx A. EBN.

11. In a card index, a container, provided designated, bear-l.

.out the container to elevate either of said l 6o n closed side uppermost, a card disposed With- 'Y 

